On the basis of ice core and meteorological data from the Qinghai-Tibetan (
Q-T) Plateau, this article focuses on the discussion of the problems relate
d to the sensitivity of temporal and spatial changes of the climate in high
-altitude regions, particularly in the Q-T Plateau. The features of abrupt
climatic changes of the past 100 ka, 2 000 a and recent years indicate that
the amplitude of these changes in the Q-T Plateau was obviously larger tha
n that in low-altitude regions. The scope of temperature change above 6 000
m in the Q-T Plateau between glacial and interglacial stages could reach o
ver 10 degrees C, but only about 4 degrees C in low-elevation regions close
to sea level. During the last 2 000 a, the amplitude of temperature change
s at Guliya (over 6 000 m a.s.l.) in the Q-T Plateau reached 7 degrees C, i
n comparison with 2 degrees C in eastern China at low altitude. In the pres
ent age, apparent differences of climatic warming have been observed in the
Q-T Plateau, indicating that the warming in high-elevation regions is much
higher than that in low-elevation regions. The temperature in over 3 500 m
regions of the Q-T Plateau have been increasing at a rate of 0.25x10 (1)/a
in recent 30 years, but almost no change has taken place in the regions be
low 500 m. Thus, we concluded that high-altitude regions are more sensitive
to climatic changes than the low-altitude regions.